graphicguy

The posts on that “social media site” we for some reason are forbidden to mention are even worse. ”I sailed the NCL (pick a ship) and wanted to keep the same dining time.”. Well, you can. Just go to the dining room at the same time every night! For the life of me, I can’t figure out why someone is so bent on working against the Freestyle concept, when it’s NCL’s calling card. Then, there are those who complain about the entertainment..and at the same time are the ones who show up ½ way through a theater production, stand in the aisle blocking peoples’ view, looking for a seat, or worse, trying to vocally find their friends/family!

Had a bartender at the outside bar for Syd's who would pour doubles of Buffalo Trace without me asking. One night, I was reveling with one of my new found cruise friends, and the bartender started making up his own drinks for the others in the group. I asked him to make up a drink for me. He set the ½ empty Buffalo Trace on the bar and said..."here...take this with you. This is a drink just for you. He left it on the bar and I ended up pouring my own. He just asked me to leave the bottle for inventory. Not sure how the whole "nickel and dimming" stuck to NCL. Royal, Carnival, etc all have the same charges. Some (like the drink packages) are way more expensive than NCL's FAS. Then there was the dust up a few months ago with some EU cruisers NCL that they were being charged VAT. According to their "law", they should not have VAT added to their drinks while in Barcelona port. It's a European tax. Bring the complaint to Spain. How do European cruisers not know about it? NCL ended up eating the VAT because of all the complaints. Just read a review this a.m. that said they did't like Teppayaki because it was "too loud" with all the singing. SMDH! I used to respond to these reviews. Now, I read them a chuckle.

Looking overcast... https://www.webcamgalore.com/webcam/Norwegian-Cruise-Line/Norwegian-Prima/35547.html

Agree!

Wait a minute…I sail the Haven…are you saying I’m a narcissistic “sphincter”? You may be right! 😉

Agree. Would add #3…Utter Narcissism!

That’s the one….LOL!

I remember that guy! A while ago!!!!! Not actual reviews, but there was one person posting here who said his wife insisted on bringing her guitar on board so she could serenade passengers in the Atruim! Then there was the lady who wanted her Haven Butler to personally wake her every morning instead of just setting her phone’s alarm or leaving a wake up call on the phone. It had to be the Butler to come in and gently shake her awake every morning! Then, there was the YouTuber who insisted on being served a meal in the Haven even though he wasn’t staying in the Haven, but was a YouTuber! When he was denied, he did a hatchet job on one of NCL’s best Concierges!

The Behind the scenes set ups I saw were way more elaborate than a game show. Again, they wouldn’t share what they were with us!

Never thought to ask! LOL! I’m a one woman kind of person! So, never want to go down that rabbit hole!

Yeah..I’ve relayed it before. I’m not a prude. Carrying naked pics of your wife? Hey, that’s all good. Sharing them with a complete stranger? She was an attractive lady. Wouldn’t want to share that with anyone else!

Speaking of which...this just showed up on my feed..... https://news.yahoo.com/rudest-things-cruise-according-etiquette-104507143.html

True. Personally, while I don't think I'll ever be in this position, but from what I've seen of a Mexican or Bahamian prison vs a U.S. Prison? I'll take the U.S. Prison. Plus, being arrested in a foreign country where the laws are probably much different, and you may or may not have any local help available to you? No thanks!

It is indeed context. I was on the Epic a few months ago. Crowd at the Great Outdoors Bar and Grill. Spice H20 is no more than a 2 minute walk away to get a drink. Same with the Garden Cafe. Crowded, walk a couple of minutes to the Outdoors Grill for food. Or, the MDR for lunch. Or, hit the Atrium Bar for drinks. Or, go to O'Sheehans for drinks and food. Point is, it's there. If you want them to bring it to you, order room service to the cabin. Cavern Club got crowded. Don't want to wait in line? Go to the Cavern Club Bar right outside. You can hear the music and order all the drinks you want. Lines for Syd's? No one would object holding a spot for Grandpa Henry who can't walk without assistance. But, you send someone to hold a place in line because your wife, husband, aunty, uncle, cousin, etc doesn't want to wait in line? Nope. Not happening if I'm there.

Have said this before, if there's a line at the bar you're trying to get a drink, there's another bar within 75 feet more or less to get the drink. Same with food. If there's a wait or a line for a dining establishment, there's more than enough dining venues to get food. That said, I just saw a post last week where someone said they wanted to attend a performance at Syd Norman's. They suggested they would send a family member to hold their place in line while the rest were dining (several people). Yes, the show is good. Yes, the venue is small. But, if you're not willing to wait in line with the rest of us, and cut in line when you're done with your meal, I have an issue with that. I will not allow line cutters in front of me.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/galveston/77550/weather-forecast/331114 Sailaway day is looking good. Thunderstorms rolling in to Galveston on Saturday, but we'll be chugging south by then.

Having dealt with both the PCCs on NCL and TAs (including big box discount and credit card travel agencies), strong word of caution....if a TA is charging more than the direct fare with NCL or they have fees associated with changing or canceling a booking before payment, run away. Run far away from them.

The ones that I always chuckle about involve people who are oblivious to anyone else on board. Lines aren't meant for them. Waiting their turn for anything is something they should not have to do. There are only 3K-4K others on the ship. All those other passengers should just get out of their way. LOL!

Almost forgot.....there were the two alleged porn stars staying the in the Retreat on the Celebrity Edge. They were tequila lovers and would run around showing people vids of them in action to the guys sitting at the Retreat Bar, the pool bar and anywhere else there was a crowd.

I've seen my fair share of crazy reviews.....on all the cruise lines. They run the gamut as you point out. Can't find food to eat (huh)? The buffet doesn't stay open 24/7 for them. Cabin is too cold, too hot, too tall, too narrow, too wide, etc. (BTW...there is a thermostat in the cabin to regulate heat). Some of these are experiences with passengers and not necessarily a review of a cruise.... This is not meant in any political way whatsoever....just an experience...Several years ago I was sitting in O'Sheehans watching a performer while sitting at the railing while drinking a beer. A guy, probably in his late '40s-early '50s and smelling "funky" sits down next to me. He tried to take is "maga" hat off and put it on my head. I pulled away. He kept trying to do that. I finally just tried to move to another seat and he followed me. There was ship security who I guess had been following him around as he tried to do it with others. They took him away, Another time, was sitting in Royal's Anthem of the Seas Diamond Lounge having a bagel when a gentleman sits on the couch next to me with his wife. We strike up a conversation and find we have a love of muscle cars in common. His wife spots someone she knows on the other side of the lounge and goes over to chat. I have a Cobra Convertible that I restored and had some pictures of it on my phone that I showed him. He started showing me pictures of a restomod Ford F100 he had. While paging through the pictures, one pops up of his wife....NAKED. He chuckles and said he meant to delete it. He keeps scrolling and more and more of his wife's naked pics crop up. He kept looking to get my response, as it was now clear he was doing it on purpose. I was way uncomfortable, particularly given she was only about 25 feet away chatting with someone else. I excused myself. Never saw him in the Diamond Lounge again. This was on the Carnival Vista. Was sailing solo and was at the Alchemy Bar. Those of you who sail Carnival know that the Alchemy Bar is sort of the "cool" place to hang out if you're inside on the ship. I situated myself at the bar and see this lady, kind of bouncing from tables to the bar to the tables checking for guys with wedding rings. I, unfortunately, was the only one without one, as I'm not married. She propositioned me by stating we could "hook up" and no one would be the wiser as it's what you do on a cruise ship. No thanks! Got plenty more. I think if you've cruised for a while, this type of thing crops up and, while many times funny (well, maybe not at the time), it's also irritating. What people complain about is humorous, though.

As soon as I think I've heard or seen "craziness" in and around a cruise, I read this. Although, this is just stupid. Truth is, the silver lining is the weed was found here as opposed to the Caribbean, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, etc. Those countries LOVE putting Americans in jail. Their jails aren't the nicest from what I've read.

Stage Manager during the Behind the Scenes tour stated the same to me...that they had shows in rehearsal in FL to replace the ones whose contract was ending. I would imagine those are staggered depending on the length of time the shows were contracted for and their production start dates. Same regarding the Breakaway (+) and Prima classes getting the first shows because they have bigger stages and more theater staging capabilities. I tried to get her to give me a "hint" as what they might be. She said she was forbidden to say as until they are announced, they're considered trade secrets.

Look at the total out of pocket….fare, fees, taxes,etc. Include FAS tips vs other’s drink packages, for example. Fees, taxes, etc are different. Don’t look at just one charge. The only number that matters is total out of pocket!

Many!!!!!!

Hey Jamie...how are you? We've missed you!